As a footballer, you always want to test yourself against the best.
You want to play against the best defenders and the best teams. You want to test yourself.
You've got to test yourself against the best to know you are the best.
In training, you can push yourself to the limit and test yourself against the best players in the world. That is when the pressure is really on, and they are the moments when you either improve, or you don't.
Anytime you spar at a new dojo, whether it's in Japan, Brazil, or Thailand, the fighters come after the new guy. It's a way to test yourself against the best and to sharpen your technical skills and push yourself to be the best you can be.
I want to test myself, playing with the best and against the best. I can do that at international level, so that's my target and what I want to reach.
Confidence applied properly is the path of genius. You must always be in a state of confidence. And the way you sustain a state of confidence is by testing yourself. Difficult quagmires that may occur; there's always a test. You have to seek them out. You constantly have to test yourself to prepare for these quagmires. That's why I always put myself to the test.
Teams like Bayern are who you want to be playing; if you want to test yourselves against the best you have to play them.
Anytime you get a better competition level, it's always better for you because you want to get the best out of yourself, and you want to compete against the best.
This is what you dream about as a footballer: playing with the best and against the best in Europe.
His boxing style is one that I would like to test myself against. I've always been a fan of his, and I've always wanted to test myself against Roy Jones.
As a competitor, I always have to test myself on the biggest stages and against the best there is to offer.
I've always dreamt of being a footballer. You only get one shot at a career like this, and I want to be the best professional I can. Anything I can do that means I can get the best out of my ability is what I'll try and do.
It's why you become a footballer, so you can play against the best in the Champions League.
I always say all the time that's what the NBA is all about - getting to play against the best guys and opportunities to redeem yourself against teams that beat you.
Right from the beginning I wanted to test myself against the best, against real champions.